Rotary sign



March 30, 1937. 1.. F. VAN SCHUCK ROTARY S IGN 5 SheetsSheet 1 FiledJuly 27, 1936 I26 den/Z021 March 30, 1937. VAN scHucK 2,075,245

v ROTARY SIGN Filed July 2'7, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 30, 1937. 1..F. VAN SCHUCK 2,075,245

ROTAR Y SIGN Filed July 27, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Hllll.

L. F. VAN SCHUCK ROTARY SIGN Filed July 27, 1936 March 30, 1937.

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Z i 13 T: 1150 :T 2 7 1.2.; 1 1 129 2 v v 13A fi I 23377' r;: i "7 5 Trig o a 1 0; g ::r g i H3 :1 is 11.9

| 120 I i I?! 199 :3:!- 1- EUL i i 122 I 1 123 5g 1 i138 I 9 l o 9 "216I35 I I 1723i z] 1 i 11g 140' 15 I bo/ 6 7 11E fofi' a 1 III Z March 30,1937. F. VAN SCHUCK ROTARY S IGN 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 27, 1936fzzdmzaz'r mzfkm 50MB Patented Mar. 30, 1937 UN l TED S .ROTARYSIGN'Le'on Van "Schuck, Wilmette, 1111., 'assignor 16 Western DisplayCompany, Wilmette, 111., a

.corporatiomo'f Illinois Application l uly 27, 1936, Serial No. 92,850

1'6 Claims.

This inventionrelatesto advertising or display sign structures-ofthetypeadapted for out-door use, and'more particularly to signstructures .of the movable type whereincone or morepanel elements iscontinuously or intermittently moved. It has long beenrecognizedin-the-sign art that some form of action or movement,either.of the signpanel proper, or elements .comprising the same, is highly desirable forattracting and creating interest of observers. 'Signstructures of thistype, therefore, -.are generally, preferred :to stationarypanel .signstructures.

One objectof the present invention is .to .pro- -videan improved signstructure .of the above- 15 mentioned type, which isofisimpleandattractive construction, durable and :practical forwithstanding.outedoorrweatherlconditions, and .which maybe economicallymanufactured and operated.

Anotherobjectis to provide an improved sign structure of theaboveicharacter, including a novel 20 construction and arrangement ofmeansfor guiding and supportingia rotary sign ,panel structure.

A further obj ectrresides in .the provision of .a novel drivingarrangementifor rotating a vertically Y disposedsign panel. structure.

A further object of my invention is to provide animproved. signconstruction of the above mentioned type, which is. characterized by theprovision: of a vertically disposed rotatable sign panel structura andatop therefor disposedJn-fixed relation thereto. a

-With the foregoing and other .objects in view which will appear'as thedescription proceeds, the invent-ion consists in "certain novel featuresof construct-ion, arrangement land combination of parts hereinafterfully described, illustrated .in the accompanying drawings, andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat var-ions changes in: the form, proeportion, size .andminor detailsof the structure -may .bemade without departing afrom thespiritorsacrificing any'of the advantages of themvention.

;For the purpose of facilitating an understand- .ing of amy invention, Ihave illustrated -in the accompanying drawings, apreferred embodimentthereof, from an inspection of which when considered.- in connectionwith the following description,. my: invention, its mode .ofconstruction, assembly and operation, and. many of its advantages shouldbe readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawings in which the same Figural isan elevationalview of asignconstruction embodyingsone form of 'thepresent invention;

-Fig. 2 is a vertical section'throughthesign structure showing detailsofconstruction; j Fig. 3 is va transverse horizontal section taken asindicated at line 3-3 onfFig. .2;

Fig. 4 is ,a verticalsectionithrough aimodifled form of the signstructure showing details'xif construction;

Fig.5 is a'long'itudinal sectionalviewfthrough a'still furthermodified'form; i

Fig. '6 isa transverse sectional viewtaken sub- 'stantially on line{ii-"6 of Fig. 5; i i Fig. '7 Ba sectional view takenqsubstantiallyon inline 'l lof Fig. 5; i Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantiallyon.line 8-8 o'f'Fig. 6; and I f Fig. 91s a sectionalview' taken' on1ine 9-9 a: Fig. 8. W 0

Signs constructedand designed for out-door use aregenerally.o'fsubstantial size and may be mounted directly on-thelground orupon'buildings, or upona specially constructed supporting structure..The sign structure embodying thisiinvention is, for ;purposes .of..illustration,v herein shown mounteddirectlylupon thagroundiupon a.suitable foundation, vand .inclu'd'es av nonow base l 0 ,permanently.and. rigidlyusecuredito a concrete .foundation indicated at.l2; j

Mounted on said .base 'for either continuous or intermittent rotationabout :a .vertical..ax is a sign panel structure,.indicated generallyvatll'3, and mounted (in fixedlrelation to .the.base, anjd extendingoversaid signpanel structure. is .a'ltop 44 of any :suitable shape, herein.shown as .of generally pyramid form. Permanently anchored .in:theconcrete foundation -l 2 a standard 16 to which is rigidly.connectedan upwardly .extending member 11 ,locatedsubstantiallylcentral- A0 -ly with respect to thebase and 'topand'aboiut which the sign panel structure .rotates. ...Said -member I1is rigidlyconnected at its .upper-..end ,-.by a nut 18 to a bracestructure 19 whichais rigidly connected to the inner surfaces of the 345top 14, and by .virtueof. which said top is rigidly ,supportedin fixedvertically spaced apart Jelavtion to thebase. 1

' The sign panellstructureimay beat any "suitable form and mayicontainany suitab1evtype.of, illustration, descriptive .or display matter, and,is herein shown of tubular .cross section and :composed of-threerelatively fiat vertically. disposed sign panelelementsll rigidlyconnected atogetherrat their vertical marginal edges,easmay be seen inFig. 3 of the drawings. Said tripanel sign structure is carried on threeupright supports 22 which are rigidly connected to said panels at theirrespective connections to each 5 other. The sign panels 2! and theirsupports 22 are rigidly braced and reinforced and are connected togetherat their upper and lower ends by spider elements 23 and 24,respectively. Said spider elements are in turn rigidly connected toopposite ends of a vertically disposed sleeve 26 mounted for rotationabout the upright top supporting member l1. Suitable bushings 21 and 28are mounted on the member I! in opposite ends of the sleeve 26 toprovide bearings for said sleeve. r

The upper ends of each of the upright supports 22 of the sign panelstructure is provided with a fitting 30 in which an axial thrust roller3| is pivotally mounted on a vertical axis for engaging a circular trackl4 secured to the interior of the hollow pyramid top [4. These rollersprovide accurate anti-friction guidance'for theupper end of the signpanel structure [3 and tend to maintain it in axial alignment during 5.rotation thereof. The lower end of each of the supports 22 is alsoprovided with a fitting 3 2 in.

which an anti-friction roller 33 is pivotally mounted on'a horizontal'axis, as seen in'Fig. 2 '01 the drawings.

These rollers 33 are mounted for rotation on an annular track 34'securedto the top ofthe basemember l0 and serve to support the sign panelstructure I3 in upright position. Said track ispreferably formed with anannular flange 35 at its outer edge for. confining said roller 33,andathus assisting in'maintaining the lower end of' the sign panelstructure l3 in axial alignment. Secured to the sign panel structureadjacent the bottom is a laterally and 40 downwardly extending apron orskirt 3'! disraceway for said bearing 40, and this bearing togetherwiththe anti-friction rollers 33 totally support the entire sign panelstructure l3; A

plurality of upwardly diverging guy rods 43 are rigidlyfco'nnected attheir lower ends to said driven'sheave number 42 and pass through apere,tures formed in the arms of the lower spider j member 24, and havetheir upper ends connected to the outer ends of the arms of the upperspider member 23, as seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Thus,'by virtueofthese connections the driving torque applied to said sleeve, 26 by saidsheave {member 42 is imparted through the spiders" 23 and ,24simultaneously and directly to both top and bottom portions of. saidsign panel structure 6513- r I. "i

H #The sheave wheel 42 is driven by afriction belt 44, from a drivesheave 45' which is'mounted in the upper end of avertically disposeddrive T shaft 46. It is manifest, however, that any other suitable typeof drive connectionsmay'be employed for impar'tingrotary movement-f tothe sleeve 26and the sign panel structure. The shaft (46 is journaled atits upper end in a bearing 41 -mounted on a. support secured totheundergsside of the track 34, as seen'in .the'd aw gaam the lower end ofsaid shaft is connected to and driven by a speed reducer, indicated at49, which in turn is driven by an electric motor 50. Electricalconductors 5| and 52 connect the motor to a suitable source of supply ofelectrical current. For convenience in affording access to the interiorof the base III for adjusting, cleansing or repairing the drivemechanism, the side wall' of the hollow base is provided with. a door55. It is to be understood that the top and base may be formed invarious shapes and designs for purpose of appearance, or for purposes ofcarrying out certain types of illustration, design,

etc., represented on the sign panel 2|.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 4, the panel sign structure, as wellas the roof or top structure, is supported for rotation, these partsbeing rigidly tied to each other and are arranged so-as to rotate as aunit. the modified form, there isprovided a center 'member or column60,- the'lower portion of which is rigidly and permanently secured in aconcrete foundation fil. .Thisform also includes a hollow base 62mounted directly upon the ground and being adapted for receiving andhousing the driving mechanism for the sign structure to be presentlydescribed.

The center member 60 is hollow and has pro- Thus as illustrated inbearings are disposed between said raceways 64 and a co-operatingraceway 66 carried by a cap member 61 supported on the plug 64. The cap1 member 61 is rigidlysecured'to the upper end, of a vertically disposedsleeve 68 which surrounds the center column. Said sleeve 68 extends downto a pointadjacent the lower portion of the,

- 40 braced against lateral movement by a plurality center column atwhich'point the said sleeve is of oppositely disposed castors or rollers69 bearing against the upper surface thereof. These rollers 69 aremounted upon suitable brackets 70 rigidly secured to a member 1| carriedupongthe concrete base 6 I.

The entire sign structure as well as the roof or top is secured to orsupported by said sleeve 63 so as to rotate therewith. Thus as shown inFig. 4, the si n panel structures are connectedto each other and to 'thesleeve 68 by meansol' the cross members 12 and 13, which members areprovided at the lowerand upper portions of said sign panels. Saidmembers 12 and I3 carry-and-sup-v port the frames 14 which constitutethe 'sign panels. To these frames'are connected the panel 15 upon whichthe advertising matter may be disposed.

To the. said cross member 12 and 13 are also In the roof structure 11may be provided suitable pockets [9 of metal or the like for housing anelectric bulb with its associated reflector 8|, whereby suitableillumination may be had for the sign panels, there being one ofsuchpockets provided directly above each of said sign panels. Byconnecting the roof structure directly to the sign structure so that theframe will rotate with the latter, the illumination provided by thelight source 80 will be constantly directed upon said,

sign panels. The lowermost portion of the sign panel structure extendsto a point just above the top of the base 62 to provide a smallclearance, as shown at 82.

Any suitable and desired means may be employed in imparting rotarymotion to the sleeve 68, and in the embodiment illustrated, I provide amotor 83, to the drive shaft of which is connected a friction wheel 84which is arranged for frictional engagement with a wheel 85 rigidlysecured to the sleeve 68, whereby rotation of the motor will impart arotary movement to the sleeve 68 and the parts carried thereby andassociated therewith. In order to insure constant contact between thefriction wheel 84 and wheel 85, the motor is pivotally secured, as shownat 85, on a bracket 81 carried by the member I I and a counterweight 88is provided for normally urging said motor driven wheel 84 towards thecontacting surface of the wheel 85.

In the modified form shown in Figs. 5 to 9, the panel sign structure isformed as a unit with the roof structure and the same is mounted forrotation on the circular track carried by a base upon which the entirestructure is supported.

The base structure is generally designated by the reference character I00 and, as illustrated in the embodiment, is of octagonal shape and isbuilt up from a plurality of supporting members It)! tied together attheir upper ends by means of the angle bars I02. The lower ends may havesuitable plate members I 0 3 rigidly secured thereto, the latter beingembedded in a concrete foundation or the like to form a solid supportfor the sign structure to be now more fully described.

Extending across the top of the base I00 are a pair of members I 04, thefree ends of said members being rigidly secured to the base structure.Disposed intermediate the ends of said members I 04 are a pair of crossmembers I05, said cross members being rigidly secured to the membersI04, and with said members I 04 form a support for a circular track I08.The track is further supported by a pair of members I01 and I08, theformer extending from the frame member I 04 to the side wall of the basestructure and the other extending from the other of said members I04 tothe opposite wall of said base structure. The said members I04 arefurther tied to each other by means of the cross members I09, the freeends of which are rigidly secured to said members I04. The track I06 isrigidly and permanently secured upon the base structure by means ofsuitable rivets or bolts I I0, or in some other suitable and well knownmanner. A small cross member III ties together the members I 09.

The sign structure proper is carried by four arms, each designated bythe reference character I I2, which arms may be in the form of I-beams,said arms being tied to each other by suitable plates H3, and each ofsaid arms being provided adjacent its free end with a roller II4 whichis adapted to track I05. The free ends of said arms are connected bymembers M5 to which members are connected substantially rectangularframes I I6 upon which the sign display is mounted. The upper portionsof said frame IIB are tied to each other by means of the member I II.

In order to give to the sign structure a more finished appearance, thecorner edges are covered with suitable ornamental strips I I8, as shownin Fig. 7 of the drawings. At the point of intersection of the arms II2, there is provided a collar H9 within which is rigidly secured oneend of a shaft I20, said shaft extending downwardly and through abearing I2I to a point below the track I06 and within the base structureI00. The shaft I20 is provided with a sprocket wheel I22 around whichpasses a chain I23, which chain connects the sprocket wheel I22 with awheel I24, the latter driven by a motor I25, said motor being supportedon a platform I26 carried by a frame structure I21 provided within thebase structure I00.

Upon the operation of the motor I25, it will be readily apparent thatrotary movement will be transmitted to the shaft I20 which in turn willrotate the arms I I 2 and with it the sign structure carried by saidarms.

In order to give a more finished appearance to the sign structure, thesame is provided with a roof structure I28, the latter being of anysuitable configuration, and is supported upon the sign structure towhich it is rigidly secured and With which it is adapted to rotate. Theroof structure may be of any suitable and desired shape, al though inthe embodiment illustrated, it is of octagon shape. It is supported onthe sign structure by means of the upstanding rods I29, to the upperends of which is fixed a plate I30, to which plate the panels of theroof structure are rigidly secured. The lower ends of said rods aresecured to a frame ISI which connects the upper ends of the sign panelsI I6 to each other. Suitable extensions I32 are provided adjacent theupper end of the sign structure for supporting the lower ends of theroof panels.

In order to properly illuminate each of the four sign panels, there isprovided a suitable lamp I33 which is mounted within the roof structureand is disposed directly above and centrally of the sign panel which itis to illuminate. Electric current for said lamps I 33 is providedthrough a cable I30 which extends through the sign structure, the lowerend of said cable being connected to a pair of collector rings I35 whichare mounted on a bakelite member I36 rigidly secured to the shaft I20for rotation therewith. In constant contacting engagement with saidrings I35 is a collector brush I 31, one end of which is rigidly securedto an insulating bracket I38, which bracket is in turn secured to afixed portion of the base structure. In this manner, a suitable supplyof electricity may be carried to the lamps I33 disposed in the roofstructure for illuminating the sign panels.

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction and assembly,and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciatedfrom the foregoing without further description, and it should also bemanifest that while preferred embodiments of the invention have beenshown and described for illustrative purposes, the structural detailsare nevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview of myinvention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

1. A device of the character described comprising a base, a top disposedin vertically spaced apart relation to said base, means for supportingthe top in fixed relation to the base including a substantiallycentrally disposed upright member rigidly connected at its upper end tosaid top, a sign panel structure disposed between said base and top androtatable about said upright support, and means for rotating said signpanel structure.

2. A device of the character described comprising a top disposed invertically spaced apart relation to said base, means for supporting thetop in fixed relation to the base including a substantially centrallydisposed upright member rigidly connected at its upper end to said top,a sign panel structure disposed between said base and top and rotatableabout said uprightsupport, said sign panel structure being composed of aplurality of upright fiat panel elements connected together at theirsides enclosing said upright member, and means for rotating said signpanel structure.

3. A device of the character described comprising a top disposed invertically spaced apart relation to said base, means for supporting thetop in fixed relation to thebase including-a substantially centrallydisposed upright member rigidlyconnected at its upper end to said top, asign panel structure disposed between said base and top and rotatableabout said upright support, means for maintaining said sign panelstructure in centralized alignment during rotation, and meansforrotating said sign panel structure.

A. A device of the character described comprising a base, a top disposedin vertically spaced apart relation to said base, means for supportingthe top in fixed relation to the base including a substantiallycentrally disposed upright member rigidly connected at its upper end tosaid top, a sign panel structure disposed between said base and top androtatable about said upright support, means for maintaining said signpanel structure in centralized alignment during rota tion, including aplurality of axial thrust rollers carried on the upper end of said signpanel structure, an internal circular track carried by said top andengageable by said rollers, and means for rotating said sign panelstructure.

5. A device of the character described come prising a base, a topdisposed in vertically spaced apart relation to said base, means forsupporting the top in fixed relation to the base including asubstantially centrally disposed upright member rigidly connected at itsupper end to said top, a sign panel structure disposed between said baseand top and rotatable about said upright support, anti-friction meansfor supporting said sign panel structure, and means for rotating saidsign panel structure. 7

6.-A device of the character described comprising a top'disposedin-vertically spaced apart relation to said base, means for supportingthe top in fixed relation to the base including a substantiallycentrally disposed upright member rigidly connected at its upper end tosaid top, a sign panel structure disposedbetween said base and top androtatable about said upright support, means for supporting said signpanel structure including a plurality of anti-friction rollers carriedon the lower end of said sign panel structure engaging a horizontaltrack on the top of the base, and means for rotating said sign panelstructure.

7. A device of the character described comprising a base, a top disposedin vertically spaced apart relation to said base, means for supportingthe top in fixed relation to the base including a. substantiallycentrally disposed upright member rigidly connected at its upper end tosaid top, a sign panel structure disposed between said base and top androtatable about said upright support, anti-friction means for guidingthe sign panel structure during rotation, anti-friction means forsupporting'said sign panel structure on said base, and means forrotating said sign panel structure.

,8. A device of the character described comprising a base, a topdisposed in vertically spaced apart relation to said base, means forsupporting the top in fixed relation to the base including asubstantially centrally disposed'upright member rigidly connected at itsupper end to said top,

a sign panel structure disposed between said base and top and rotatableabout said upright support, anti-friction rollers carried on the lowerend of said sign panel structure engaging a horizontal track on saidbase for supporting said sign panel structure, a continuous laterallyextending apron securedto the lower end of the sign panel structureanddisposed in close prox imity to the top of the base for: protecting saidanti-friction rollers, and means for rotating said sign panel structure.

9. A-device of the character described come prising a base, a topdisposed in vertically spaced apart relation to said base, means forsupporting the twin fixed relation to the base including a centrallydisposed upright member, an enclosed tubular formed sign panel structuredisposed between the base and top and rotatable about said uprightmember, a sleeve mounted on said upright member for rotation thereabout,means rigidly connecting said sleeve to said sign panel structureadjacent its upper and lower ends, and means for rotating said sleeveand sign panel structure.

10. A device of the character described comprising a base, a topdisposed in vertically spaced apart relationto said base, means forsupporting the top in fixed relation to the, base including .a centrallydisposed uprightmember, an enclosed tubular formed signpanelstructuredisposed between the base andtop androtatable about said upright member,a sleeve mounted on said upright member for rotation thereabout, meansrigidly connecting said sleeve to said sign panel structure adjacent itsupper and lower ends,an anti-friction thrust bearing positioned forsupporting said sleeve and sign panel structure on said upright member,and means for rotating said sleeve and sign panel structure.

11. A device of the character described comprising a base, a topdisposed in vertically spaced apart relation to said base, means vforsupporting the top in fixed relation to the base including a centrallydisposed upright member, an enclosed tubular formed sign panel structuredisposed between the base and the top and rotatable about said uprightmember, a sleeve mounted on said upright member for rotation thereabout,means rigidly connecting said sleeve to said sign panel structureadjacent its upper and lower ends, means for supporting said sign panelstructure including an anti-friction thrust bearing for supporting saidsleeve on the upright member, and anti-friction rollers carried on thelower end of the sign panel structure engaging a horizontal track on topof said base. and means for rotating said sleeve and sign panelstructure.

12. A device of the character described coinprising a base, a topdisposed in vertically spaced apart relation to said base,means forsupporting the top in fixed relation to the base including a centrallydisposed upright member, an enclosed tubular ,formed sign panelstructure disposed between the base and top and rotatable about saidupright member, a sleevemounted on said uprightmember for rotationthereabout, means rigidly connectlng said sleeve to said sign panelstructure adjacent its upper and lower ends,

anti-friction means for' guiding and supporting said sign panelstructure during rotation, and

means for rotating said sleeve and sign panel structure.

13. A device of the character described comprising a base, a topdisposed in vertically spaced apart relation to said base, means forsupporting the top in fixed relation to the base including a centrallydisposed upright member, an enclosed tubular formed sign panel structuredisposed between the base and top and rotatable about said uprightmember, a sleeve mounted on said upright member for rotation thereabout,means rigidly connecting said sleeve to said sign panel structureadjacent its upper and lower ends, anti-friction rollers carried on thelower end of said sign panel structure adapted for engaging a continuoushorizontal track on said base memher, said track being depressedrelative to the top of said base to assist in guiding said rollersduring rotation of said sign panel structure, and means for rotatingsaid sleeve and sign panel structure.

14. A device of the character described comprising a base, a topdisposed in vertically spaced apart relation to said base, means forsupporting the top in fixed relation to the base including a centrallydisposed upright member, an enclosed tubular formed sign panel structuredisposed between the base and top and rotatable about said uprightmember, a sleeve mounted on said upright member for rotation thereabout,means rigidly connecting said sleeve to said sign panel structureadjacent its upper and lower ends, and means for rotating said sleeveand sign panel structure, said means including a driven member rigidlyconnected to the lower end of the sleeve, and guy rods connecting saiddriven member to the said means connecting said sleeve and the upperportion of said sign panel structure.

15. A device of the character described comprising a base, asubstantially centrally disposed upright member rigidly secured withinsaid base, a sign panel structure disposed around said upright member, asleeve rotatably mounted on said upright member, said sign panelstructure being rigidly secured to said sleeve for rotating therewith,and means for rotating said sleeve.

16. A device of the character described comprising a base, a centrallydisposed upright member supported on said base, a sleeve mounted on saidupright member for rotation thereabout, an enclosed tubular formed signpanel structure rigidly secured to said sleeve adjacent its upper andlower ends, and means for rotating said sleeve and sign panel structure.

LEON F. VAN SCHUCK.

